False alarm causes KTLA studio to be evacuated on live TV

Will Conybeare
·2 min read

So much for a calm Fourth of July morning shift at KTLA.

Every single staff member was forced to evacuate the newsroom and studios around 9 a.m. Thursday after an alarm began to sound throughout the office.

At first, many were confused – including this author – but, as the saying goes, the show must go on, and most tried to keep working through the loud alarm and distracting sirens.

However, as the alarm kept going off, security guards came in and ushered everyone out towards the front of the lot.

  • Every single KTLA staff member was forced to evacuate the building around 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4, 2024, after an alarm began to sound throughout the office.
    Every single KTLA staff member was forced to evacuate the building around 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4, 2024, after an alarm began to sound throughout the office.
  • KTLA 5’s Eric Spillman records as all KTLA staff members were evacuated due to a false alarm on July 4, 2024.
    KTLA 5’s Eric Spillman records as all KTLA staff members were evacuated due to a false alarm on July 4, 2024.
  • KTLA 5’s Kirk Hawkins waves as all KTLA staff members were evacuated due to a false alarm on July 4, 2024.
    KTLA 5’s Kirk Hawkins waves as all KTLA staff members were evacuated due to a false alarm on July 4, 2024.

That included the anchors of KTLA Morning News, Jessica Holmes, Eric Spillman and weatherman Kirk Hawkins, who all discussed the alarm as it was going off during the beginning of the 9 a.m. show.

“The fire alarm in the studio is going off,” Eric could be heard saying as Kirk began to preview the forecast. “We think it’s a false alarm.”

“No one seems worried at the moment,” Jessica added.

Some employees did appear a bit concerned as the anchors and guests left the studio, but the entire staff was directed toward Sunset Boulevard to await the all-clear signal, which came after a few minutes.

Coverage then quickly resumed with an entertainment segment hosted by Scott “Movie” Mantz. Before starting the interview with Billy Idol guitarist Billy Morrison, everyone laughed about the unprecedented on-air evacuation.

What triggered the alarm was not immediately disclosed.

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